Breaking: Israel Kills Hamas Military Head (Updated)

It’s being reported that the Israeli Air Forces bombed the car of Ahmed Jabari today in Gaza City, killing both him and his son. Jabari’s role in Hamas’ activity is being described as that of an army chief of staff, including the direction of terrorist and rockets attacks against Israel and the 2006 abduction of Gilad Shalit.

“By nature of his position, Jabari has been responsible over the past decade for all anti-Israel terror activity emanating from the [Gaza] Strip,” the Shin Bet security agency said in a statement. Israeli military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity under army regulations, said Jabari was identified by “precise intelligence” gathered over several months.

Israel announced this move and other strikes as the beginning of Operation Pillar of Defense. In doing so, Hamas has said that Israel has “opened the gates of hell.” From the looks of it, a war with Hamas is not likely, but has just started.

Update, 10:50 AM: It’s now being reported by Haaretz that Israel is preparing for an invasion of Gaza.

Update, 11:38 AM: Hamas says Israel has killed Raed al-Atar, the military wing leader in Rafah, Gaza. Israel also has struck multiple launch sites and ammunition factories for long-range rockets. Classes in Ashdod and Sde Boker have been canceled and the IDF spokesman warns residents of southern Israel of some tough days ahead. In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood has called on President Morsi to reassess relationship with Israel.

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Yesterday I saw a video
of a young man angry at Israel for her attacks on Gaza. He refused
to acknowledge that Hamas had attacked Israel and that Israel was
fighting back. It was as though he’d had a lobotomy and had half his
brain removed.

He saw Israel as a
“huge” military power fighting “helpless” Hamas because
Israel wanted more land. (He overlooked both history books and
maps).

I remember when Israel
was new and fought with chewing gum to patch the holes, pistols that
misfired, pots and pans that made loud noises, and fire crackers that
replaced non-existent weapons. They were attacked by their
neighbors, had no relationship with America, and never knew if anyone
would help them. Mainly, Israeli soldiers relied on miracles. G-d
must have been listening, because Israel is still here.

Today she does have
money from America in order to buy weapons, (Arab countries,
including Egypt also get money from America). Israel is tiny and
still under attack. She occupies the West Bank and used to occupy
Gaza because she was attacked by Jordan and Egypt who owned this land
and won the war they started.

Settlements aren’t the
issue with the Palestinians who’ve attacked Israel three times.
Israel wants a peace agreement; then they can work out the issue of
the settlements. She’d like to trade Israeli land for the two
largest contiguous settlements, but she removed settlers for Gaza and
if that’s what it takes to bring about peace, she’ll remove the
settlers again.

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